Father Nature - The Science of Paternal Potential

How and why human males evolved the capacity to be highly involved caregivers—and why some are more involved than others.


We all know the importance of mothers. They are typically as paramount in the wild as they are in human relationships. But what about fathers? In most mammals, including our closest living primate relatives, fathers have little to no involvement in raising their offspring—and sometimes even kill the offspring sired by other fathers. How, then, can we explain modern fathers with the capacity to be highly engaged parents? In
Paternal caregiving is highly advantageous to children and, by extension, to society at large, yet highly variable both across and within human societies. Rilling considers how to explain this variability, and what social and policy changes might be implemented to increase positive paternal involvement. Along the way,
A beautifully written book by a father himself,

List of contents

Contents
INTRODUCTION                        
CHAPTER 1: Paternal Influence                  
CHAPTER 2: Transformations                  
CHAPTER 3: Testosterone                     
CHAPTER 4: Oxytocin                     
CHAPTER 5: Brain                        
CHAPTER 6: Norms and Circumstances               
CHAPTER 7: Conclusion

About the author

James K. Rilling is Professor of Psychology and Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Emory University, and Director of the Laboratory for Darwinian Neuroscience. He is married and the father of two children.

Product details

• Authors: James K. Rilling, James K Rilling, James K. Rilling
• Publisher: The MIT Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 15.10.2024
• EAN: 9780262048934
• ISBN: 978-0-262-04893-4
• No. of pages: 392
• Dimensions: 164 mm x 235 mm x 31 mm
• Subjects: Guides > Self-help, everyday life > Family; SOCIAL SCIENCE / Sociology / Marriage & Family, SCIENCE / Life Sciences / Biology, FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS / Parenting / Fatherhood, Family & health, Parenting: advice and issues